Also called: Production Auditor
Tracks every dollar a film or show spends, pays the crew, and reports to the studio daily.
A production accountant reviews receipts from every department, reconciles a $2 million weekly payroll, and warns the producers when costs are running over. They're the money brain of a production.
Approximate; head production accountants on studio shows earn well into six figures.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Accounting or business degree; IATSE Local 161/871 in some cities.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Accounting, Business Administration, Finance.
Growing about average. Every production needs one.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI automates cost reports and coding, shrinking clerk roles; managing budgets, unions and studio questions stays human.
Classes: Accounting, AP Statistics, Business, Computer applications.
Official data: O*NET occupation 13-2011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.